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Men Who Make a Difference
George Washington and the Craft of Character
Bro. Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez
In his book Revolutionary Characters, historian Gordon S. Wood argues that the Founding Fathers were a unique "aggregation of greatness" that the world is unlikely to see again. At the pinnacle of this group stood George Washington. Many remember him as a remarkable general or a silent president, but Wood reveals a man who was a "self-made" aristocrat, a son of the Enlightenment.
Washington’s life was a great example of Enlightenment virtues, and no institution provided a better framework for developing these virtues than Freemasonry.
The Enlightenment influence
To understand Washington’s embodiment of Masonic principles, one must first understand what "character" meant in the 18th century. Unlike our modern view of character as an internal, private morality, Wood explains that for the Founders, character was a public project. It was something you built to be viewed and judged by society.
Washington joined the Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 in Virginia at the age of 20. For a young man of modest means and limited formal education, Freemasonry offered a path to "gentility," to become a “gentleman.” The Craft’s emphasis on self-improvement, order, and civic duty mirrored the Enlightenment ideals that Washington used to sculpt his public persona. In the lodge, men were taught to "subdue their passions" and act according to the "square of virtue"—principles that would define Washington’s legendary self-control.
The Principle of Disinterestedness
The core characteristic Wood identifies in Washington is disinterestedness. In the 18th-century sense, this didn't mean being bored or indifferent; it meant being "objective" and "unbiased." A leader was expected to rise above personal gain, local prejudices, and party factions to act solely for the public good.
This Masonic ideal of "acting on the level" was the bedrock of Washington's authority. He was obsessed with the idea that he must never appear to be seeking power for himself. When he accepted the command of the Continental Army, he famously refused a salary, asking only that his expenses be reimbursed. This wasn't just a gesture of patriotism; it was a signal to the world that he was a "gentleman" whose service could not be bought. He was the "living stone" being polished for the temple of the Republic.
The Surrender of Power
Another clear example of Washington’s character and Masonic principles occurred at the end of the Revolutionary War. In 1783, with a victorious army at his back and a weak Congress in his front, Washington could have easily become a monarch. Instead, he resigned his commission and returned to Mount Vernon.
Wood argues that this act of resignation was Washington’s greatest contribution to the American experiment. He proved that the Revolution was about principles, not personalities. This mirrored the Masonic lessons of humility: that no matter how high one rises in the "Grand Lodge" of life, one must always remain a servant to the society, the nation, and the will of the Great Architect of the Universe.
The Living Symbol of the Union
Throughout his presidency, Washington used Masonic symbols and ceremonies to lend gravity and legitimacy to the new federal government. The most iconic example was the 1793 laying of the U.S. Capitol cornerstone. Dressed in full Masonic regalia, Washington presided over the ceremony, using a marble gavel and a silver trowel.
Perhaps he saw the Masonic fraternity as a "cement" for the Union, a way to bind men from different states and backgrounds into a single national identity.
The Legacy of the Master Builder
Gordon Wood concludes that Washington’s greatness lay in his ability to "perfectly embody" the values of his age. He was a man of Integrity, a man who lived his life as if he were constantly under the scrutiny of a "Grand Master." By the time of his death, he had become the "Indispensable Man" not because of his genius on the battlefield or his eloquence in debate, but because of his unshakeable character.
Washington’s life serves as a reminder that the American Republic was built on the moral integrity of its leaders. He took the "rough ashlar" of his youth and, through the discipline of the Craft and the ideals of the Enlightenment, carved a "perfect ashlar", a cornerstone of the American presidency. In the eyes of Wood, Washington did more than lead a country; he designed the very definition of American leadership.
Side Note
Building on the legacy of George Washington and the founding fathers, the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island will host a historic event on May 2 at 11:00 AM to constitute Semiquincentennial Lodge No. 250. This commemorative lodge will be established as a formal salute to the important role Freemasonry played in the birth of the United States.
The event will begin with a procession from Taunton Avenue into the lodge room. There will be an official signing ceremony in a commemorative book for all Freemasons in attendance who whish to be counted as founding members of the lodge. An historical presentation by R:.W:. Ray Geer will follow. There will be a reception after the meeting in the dinning hall.
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